SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH

8:00-8:45 a.m. – Penny Warner –

AUTHORS IN SCHOOLS:Bring Children’s Books to K-12 Students

  1. Design a 45-minute event around your book – ie. THE CODE BUSTERS CLUB!
  2. Create a letter for school principals, librarians, and teachers, introducing yourself – (author of over 60 books), your books (mystery filled with codes for kids to solve), and details of your event (interactive participation, writing tips, code-busting.)
  3. Include any literary awards (Two-time Agatha Award winner), publication reviews (Kirkus, School Library Journal), and blurbs from teachers who have heard you speak.
  4. Offer to send complimentary copies to the teachers to read to students before the event.
  5. Describe your audience – ie. 3rd – 5th grade. Decide how many you can handle at one time – 30? 100? 300?
  6. Decide what your want to charge, how you want to handle books (local bookstore or bring them yourself), and design preorder form (sent to parents a week before event, orders due day before the event.)
  7. Design a T-shirt with your book cover or fun logo to wear to event.
  8. Arrive at event at least 15 minutes early to set up. Ask for a table for display, some water, and a mic if needed.
  9. Set up a display of your books, along with any props that make your event visually stimulating.
  10. Welcome the students and pass out bookmarks or other inexpensive items that go with the books, ie. Packet of codes.
  11. Begin by introducing yourself, how you got started writing, how you write your books. Ask the kids to contribute ideas to your next books such as setting and plot.
  12. When finished with your talk and activity, ask for questions (be prepared to answer such random questions as: “How much money do you make?” “Did you draw the illustrations?” “Are you famous?” “How long does it take to write a book?” and “How old are you?”)
  13. Sign and personalize purchased books after event.
  14. Ask librarian to pass along your name and contact information.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH

10:00-10:45 a.m. – Penny Warner –

CHILLAX, BAE, IDEK:Creating Authentic Kid’s Dialogue

  1. Purpose of dialogue

- To move story along

- To increase pace and create drama

- To reveal characters and make them come alive

- To identify location and set mood

-To add reality

- To show, instead of telling

  1. Listen to kids talk, be a kid when writing dialogue.
  2. Read contemporary children’s books to see how other authors do it.
  3. Each character should have his or her own style of language – ie. special words, phrases specific to speaker.
  4. Be careful of slang – most words will be out of date by the time the book is published. Safe words so far: cool, awesome, dude. Consider making up your own slang.
  5. Read the dialogue aloud to hear how it sounds.
  6. Avoid dialect, only suggest it. Avoid stereotyping with language.
  7. Attribution

-Don’t use when not necessary.

-Use action instead of attribution.

-Use “said” instead of other similar words. Keep it simple.

  1. Monologue/internal speech

- Use quotes if spoken out loud, italics or “she thought” if not.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH

2:00-2:45 p.m. – Penny Warner –

ONCE UPON A CRIME: Making Mayhem Pay Through the Prose

Drew’s Clues to writing mysteries

  1. Create unforgettable characters: “You know Nancy.” All agreed she possessed an appealing quality, which people never forgot. ~ Clue in the Diary
  1. Use dialogue: Suddenly the young sleuth snapped her fingers. “I know what I’ll do! I’ll set a trap for that ghost!” ~ The Hidden Staircase
  1. Set the scene: Many Colonial houses had secret passageways. “Do you know any entrances a thief could use?”~The Hidden Staircase
  1. Add mood and atmosphere: Nancy had heard music, thumps and creaking noises at night, and had seen eerie, shadows on walls. ~ The Hidden Staircase
  1. Outline your plot: Ellen was alarmed. “We must do something to stop him!” “I have a little plan,” Nancy said. ~ Quest of the Missing Map
  1. Start the clock ticking: “Hurry, girls, or we’ll miss the train to River Heights!” Nancy knew being on time was important.~ Secret of Red Gate Farm
  1. Create conflict: Nancy struggled to get away. She twisted, kicked and clawed. “Let me go!” Nancy cried. ~ Secret of the Old Clock
  1. Pack it with action: “How do we get in?” “Over the top, commando style,” George urged. “Lucky we wore jeans.” ~ Clue in the Crumbling Wall
  1. Spark reader’s emotions: Nancy was too frightened to think logically. She beat on the door, but the panels would not give way. ~ Secret of the Old Clock
  1. Raise the stakes: In a desperate attempt to break down the door Nancy threw her weight against it again and again. ~ Secret of the Old Clock

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH

4:00-4:45 pm – Penny Warner –

BUILDING A WORLD FOR KIDS: to Fuel Children’s Imaginations

In a world …

-Begin by visualizing your world.

-Built it layer by layer.

-Establish consistent rules about the world.

-Make sure it’s logical even if fantastical

-Characters must seem “real” even if they’re aliens

-How is it similar yet different to ours?

-How does the world/setting affect the characters? The plot?

-It’s in the details:

  • What is the history?
  • Politics?
  • People?
  • Language?
  • Landscape?
  • Culture?
  • Clothing?
  • Technology?
  • Magic?
  • Monsters?

-Watch out for clichés, stereotypes, and overdone aspects.

-Draw a map for easy reference.

-When describing the world, don’t forget to move the plot along.

-Does protagonist have a flaw? Villain have a redeeming trait?

-SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH

11:00–11:45 a.m. – Penny Warner –

JOIN THE CLUB:How to Promote Your Children’s Books with Website Fun, Special Clubs, and Free/Cheap Swag

  1. Throw a book party – friends, family, booksellers, librarians, reviewers, students.
  2. Visit local bookstores and libraries – donate a copy, bring order information, offer to host an event.
  3. Compile a list of reviewers – newspapers, periodicals, any publication related to your topic.
  4. Compile a list of retailers – stores related to your topic, boutiques, local shops. – ie Spy Museum.
  5. Produce an instructional aid – teacher’s guide, talking points, discussion questions.
  6. Join organizations – related to your book, ie SCBWI, MWA, SinC, ALA, CWC.
  7. Attend events and conferences – meet writers, share your book, teach workshops.
  8. Write articles – submit to writers magazines, library journals, school newsletter.
  9. Create website – offer contests, club membership, writing tips.
  10. Create swag – bookmarks, membership cards, handbooks, freebies.
  11. Do Blog Tours – search for children’s review sites, offer to blog on a topic.
  12. Join social networks – facebook, twitter, instagram, pinterest, good reads.

13. Announce your news – Use Vertical Response, Constant Contact, Mail Chimp

  1. Offer school visits (See School Visits handout.)
  2. Give out swag, ie. Bookmarks, dossier, codes, secret packet, invisible ink pen, “Keep out” stickers, handbooks, activity sheets, etc.